NCO, working with community partners, established what is now the Community Network Professionals supporting LGBTQ Youth in November of 2001. The Department of Humans Services granted NCO funds  to continue this important work. The group meets monthly with the following goals:

• Provide a safe and respectful environment for professionals, service providers, and community members to network, gain access, share resources, provide expertise, and educate ourselves and other providers on issues related to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth.
• Provide training for providers (open to those working with youth in a variety of settings) to increase professional competencies in working with LGBTQ youth.

Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth are often an invisible minority receiving little support from those around them. We know that sexual minority youth have higher rates of depression, school drop out, homelessness, suicide and drug use. To get a clearer understanding of the importance of this work, consider the following:

• The LGBTQ youth population is spread across all demographics and studies estimate the population to be between 4 % and 10% of the youth population.
• The LGBTQ youth population is also spread across all economic levels, though sexual minority youth are more likely then other youth their age to no longer be welcome in their homes. Service Providers estimate that LGBTQ youth make up 20-40% of the homeless youth in urban areas. (Source: The National Network of Runaway and Youth Services, 1991.)
• 77% of youth identifying as GLB or as having had same-gender sexual experience(s) reported having ever used Marijuana, compared to 50% of their peers. (Source: 1997 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey)
• 59% of self identified gay and bisexual high school students smoke, compared with 35% of their peers. (Source: Massachusetts public school study, 1995)

For further information contact: Karen Jarczyk at 961-2992 extension 223.